Energy Extraction and Achievement of the Saturation Limit in a Discharge-Pumped Table-Top Soft X-Ray Amplifier

Abstract

We report the generation of laser pulse energies up to $30\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{J}$ at 46.9 nm in the plasma column of a fast compressional capillary discharge. Double pass experiments using an iridium mirror achieved a gain-length product greater than 25. The results provide the first clear evidence of saturated operation of a table-top soft x-ray amplifier.